Here is your ultimate guide to the Seattle area holiday Nutcracker performances to enjoy with the family. These performances will feature gifted dancers and artists, holiday festivities and more.
Seattle
Pacific Northwest BalletĀ
When the curtain goes up on George Balanchineās The Nutcracker, a new era for the Pacific Northwest Ballet will rush in. The Nutcracker experience features a picture-perfect lobby, Tchaikovskyās classic score (played brilliantly by the PNB Orchestra), gorgeous costumes and scenery, impressive performances, and so much more! Ā The Nutcracker will feature dancers in a full-length, two-hour performance certain to bring Claraās dreams to life for a new generation of fans.Ā
PNB also makes the tradition of The Nutcracker more than just a performance with special themed nights. Enchanted Lobby on November 29, 30, and December 1, where you will get to experience a winter wonderland in the lobby. It will feature photo-ops with Snowflake characters, pop-up magic shows, and sweet treats for all in the Lobby. There will be other themed nights for 2024 this season, learn more here.Ā
There will be a sensory-friendly performance at the 2 p.m. matinee on December 19.
Date: November 29-December 28, 2024
Location: McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109
Cost: $29-$207 per person. Buy tickets here.
Seattle Theatre Group: āNutcracker Magical Christmas Balletā
āNutcracker Magical Christmas Balletā will be present at the Moore Theatre this season. Featuring gifted dancers and artists from around the world, this classic holiday story includes jaw-dropping acrobatics, larger-than-life puppets and a hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind set.
Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. show and 5 p.m. show
Location: Moore Theatre, 1932 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Cost: Starting at $30. Buy tickets here.
DASSdance: Mini Nutcracker and Santa Breakfast
Enjoy a Santa Breakfast and mini Nutcracker performance by DASSdance. Continental breakfast, door prizes, and balloon magic for the kids are part of the festivities. You can also get your picture taken with both Santa and Nutcracker characters!
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
Cost: $32 general, $27 for student and seniors. Children under 2 are admitted for free if not occupying a seat. Buy tickets here.Ā
Roosevelt Jazz Band: Jazz Nutcracker
Sure, itās not a dance performance, but Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhornās Jazz Nutcracker performed by the Roosevelt Jazz Band has the potential to become your familyās new Nutcracker tradition. You can preorder a charcuterie box, commemorative ornament, and poinsettia.
Date: December 6-8, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m. on Friday & Saturday, 2:30 p.m. on Sunday
Location: Roosevelt High School Theatre, 1410 NE 66th St., Seattle, WA 98115
Cost: Youth and seniors $15; General admission $25. Buy tickets here.
ARC Dance
A family-friendly performance designed specifically with kids in mind. Performed by the students of the ARC School of Ballet, the ARC Youth Dance Company and ARC Danceās professional dancers, Nutcracker Sweets run a sweet, abbreviated, hour-long performance of the classic ballet. Three weekends at three different venues including the return to the Cornish Playhouse, ARC Dance Performance Space and Shorewood Performing Arts Center. 206-352-0798, arcdance.org.
Date: December 7, 2024
Cornish Playhouse, 201 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109
Buy tickets here.
Date: December 13-15, 2024
ARC Dance Space, 9250 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117
Buy tickets here.
Date: December 21, 2024
Shorewood Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
Buy tickets here.
East
International Ballet Theatre, Bellevue
Celebrate the “Season of Cheer” in Bellevue by sharing in an East side families’ holiday tradition ā take everyone to see a live performance of International Ballet Theatreās The Nutcracker at the Meydenbauer Theatre.
This yearās production of The Nutcracker celebrates IBTās 24th year performing this timeless classic ballet. The Nutcracker tells the enchanting story of a young girl named Clara, her Nutcracker Prince, and their fantastical journey to the Land of Sweets. This year, former Principal Dancer of the San Francisco Ballet, Ana Sophia Scheller, joins the cast as Clara, while Lanier Gomez Noda, Principal Dancer with Nacional de Danza in Spain, will play The Nutcracker Prince.
The program length is 1 hour 50 minutes with 15 minute intermission.
Date: December 6-23, 2024. Various times
Location: Meydenbauer Theatre, 11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, WA 98004
Cost: $62 for general admission, $52 for military/seniors, $42 for youth 14 and under. Buy tickets here.
Emerald Ballet Academy
Emerald Ballet Academy proudly announces its 20th Anniversary of the “The Nutcracker.” The performances will feature an exceptional collaboration between Emerald Ballet Academy’s talented student performers and distinguished guest artists from Pacific Northwest Ballet. Principal Dancer Jonathan Batista will grace the stage on December 7 and 8, while Dylan Calahan will perform as the Sugar Plum Cavalier on December 13 and 15.
Date: December 7-8, 13, 15, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. show times on December 7,8, 15 and 7 p.m. on December 13
Location: Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave NE, Bothell, WA 98011
Cost: Ticket prices range $26-$54. Buy tickets here.
Kirkland Performance Center
Grand Kyiv Ballet presents the Nutcracker at Kirkland Performance Center December 10-12, 2024. The Nutcracker is a ballet that will always be timeless. It has been loved for more than 100 years by many generations of children and adults from different countries all around the world. The performance is based on the fairy tale classic of German literature by E. Hoffmann āThe Nutcracker and the Mouse Kingā, it is a mystical story about a handsome prince who was bewitched into an ugly doll, and a girl Masha, who helps the Nutcracker defeat the Mouse King.
Date: December 10-12, 2024
Time: Show times at 7 p.m.
Location: Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, WA 98033
Cost: $59 per youth, $69 per adult. Buy tickets here.
North
Olympic Ballet Theatre
Full-length traditional productions of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, as well as abridged matinees, are presented by the Olympic Ballet Theatre. Matinee performances include a behind-the-scenes show called āThe Introduction to the Magic of Theatre.ā School/group affiliation isnāt required to attend these performances. Regular performance length is 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission. The abridged morning matinee is 1 hour and 15 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission.
Date: December 13-15, 2024
Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave, Everett, WA 98201
Ticket prices range from $27-$47. Buy tickets here.
Date: December 19-23, 2024
Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020
Ticket prices range from $29-$60. Buy tickets here.
South
Federal Way Performing Arts & Events Center
Join the Grand Kyiv ballet on a journey into a world of dreams, magic, and triumph over evil. The Grand Kyiv Ballet, including the most prestigious ballet dancers from Ukraine, invites you to a heartwarming experience that has thrilled audiences on the worldās stages for years.
Date: Sunday, December 22. 4 p.m.
Location: Federal Way Performing Arts & Events Center, 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S, Federal Way, WA 98003
Cost: $32-$68 for adults, $29-$61.50 for child (12 and under). Buy tickets here.
Evergreen City Ballet
Enjoy this holiday classic the āThe Nutcracker,Ā choreographed by the renowned Wade Walthall. This year rendition promises to be a spectacular celebration of dance, featuring guest artists from the prestigious Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) and accompanied by a live orchestra under the direction of Music Director Barney Blough.
Date: December 14-15, 2024
Time: 1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. (Dec 14) and 1:30 p.m. & 5 p.m. (Dec 15)
Auburn Performing Arts Center, 702 4th St NE, Auburn, WA 98002
Date: December 20-22, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. (Dec 20-21) and 1:30 p.m. (Dec 21-22)
IKEA Performing Arts Center, 400 S 2nd St, Renton, WA 98057
Photo credit: Michelle Smith Lewis
Tacoma City Ballet
Tacoma City Ballet presentsĀ The NutcrackerĀ in the magnificent Pantages Theater, accompanied by the Tacoma City Ballet Orchestra. Enjoy an afternoon of sheer delight with the whole family, and make a scrumptious holiday memory that will last a lifetime! A perfect holiday gift!
Date: December 14-15, 21-22 at 2 p.m. and December 20 at 7 p.m.
Location: Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402
Cost: Ticket prices start at $27.50 plus fees. Buy tickets here.Ā
Body Language Studio
Featuring over 40 talented student dancers and starring world-renowned B-boys Jeromeskee and Nova of the Massive Monkees crew as the Nutcracker and Mouse King, this production promises something special for all ages. With a runtime of under 2 hours and family-friendly showtimes, this performance is the ultimate holiday outing.
Date: Friday, Dec 20th at 6 p.m., and Saturday, Dec 21st at 11:30 a.m. & 4 p.m.
Location: Foster Performing Arts Center at Foster High School, 4242 S 144th St, Tukwila, WA 98168
Cost: Starting at $30 for reserved seating. Buy tickets here.
Read more:
A guide to the local Nutcracker performances
